What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?

I lived in Charleston when I was a little kid. And when I was 35 years old, I fell in love with The Pirate and he took me to Charleston for a romantic weekend. For me, Charleston has always been a city of beauty and ghosts.

As of last Wednesday, it is a city where 9 people sitting peacefully in a prayer group in a church were murdered. And as all tragedies, the grief of this one ebbs out in concentric circles. Some are grieving the murder of  loved ones, others the safety of church and prayer circle, others the conditions of the South, and others the tolerance of racism, gun violence and terrorism in our country.

What do we do when we are faced with such loss? What do we do with our broken hearts, when it’s clear we can’t reverse time, or snap our fingers to change what happened?

I have a few humble offering. What else is there? Certainly not answers.

Soothe yourself, and any others you have the energy for. Honor the dead by reveling in the Beauty of the world, rather than the horror. “Don’t let the hate win”, as they say.

When a tree is cut, it will “bleed” resin. Resin helps close the wound, and protect the vulnerable wood from insects, bacteria and rot. Resin is what a tree uses to ultimately heal itself. Resin is also seen as an “offering” from a tree, and thus used to make offerings. For instance, Frankincense and Myrrh are both resins, and both have broad historical use as offerings.

In Aromatherapy, we will often chose an essential oil based on what it does within its botanical host (this is called Morphology). I will offer you a few formulas that include resins, as you and your community may benefit from their healing connotations.

Heart Sooth anointing oil:
To 5 ml of Jojoba or other carrier oil add the follwing essential oils:
1 drop Rose (Rosa damascena)
5 drops Frankincense (Boswellia sacra, or any other safely harvested Boswellia)
1 drop Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
3 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Place a drop or two on your hands, and rub them together. Then, place your hands over your heart.

Sanctuary room diffuser
essential oils:
1 drop Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
1 drop Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
3 drops Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
3 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
Place synergy in a diffuser. Refresh every 4 hours, or as the water in the diffuser evaporates.

Release bathing salts
To 1 cup of Sea Salt or Epsom Salt add the following essential oils
2 drops Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
2 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
5 drops Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia)
1 drops Balsam Peru (Myroxylon balsamum)
Add the entire cup of salt and essential oil to a full bath. Blend the aromatic salts into the water with your hands, inhaling the aroma as you do. Immerse yourself into the water once the salts are dissolved.

For those who are seeking relief but do not wish to blend aromatic preparations yourself, I can suggest the following river island apothecary products.
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Be well, aromatic tribe.

Thanks for reading!